Yarn Dancer

ABSTRACT

An electronic device incorporates a swift winder, an electronic thread feeder, and an electronic ball winder in one portable unit. A three-way switch selectively runs either the thread feeder or ball winder. A foot pedal controls the rate at which the thread feeder operates and the foot pedal comprises part of the unit. The unit houses a drawer where the swift winder and tool accessories are placed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The yarn dancer pertains to the yarn or textile industry and comprisinga unit incorporating several tools electronically operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Well known swift winders have been used to place a hank of yarn that isused to make a ball of yarn. This is normally sold by itself in the samefashion that a ball winder is sold. Ball winders are known to beelectronically operated or manually operated. Ball winders are soldalone and have been known to have a clamp to allow it to be clamped tothe edge of a table or any platform. No known device has incorporatedboth a swift winder and an electronic ball winder as a unit especiallywhen combined with an electronic thread feeder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a device used to hold a hank of yarn while it is beingwound off by a ball winder making a ball of yarn. The device furtherincorporates an electronic thread feeder as well as making the ballwinder electronically operated. The unit further incorporates a storagedrawer to house components of the swift winder as well as a retainingsystem that retains a pair of arms of the swift winder. A 3-way switchallows the user to turn off the unit, operate the ball winder inconjunction with a foot pedal, or operate the thread feeder inconjunction with the same foot pedal.

The invention further incorporates a mechanical yarn counter so that onecan measure the length of yarn being fed through the electronic threadfeeder. Several eyelets are set before the yarn counter to keep anynumber of strings separated. As the strings pass through the mechanicalcounter, the strings pass through one eyelet and through the motorizedfeeder, which is controller by the foot pedal.

The invention further incorporates a dividing compartment that housesall the electronics components such as a pair of motors, the 3-wayswitch, a female plug, and a power socket. A separate box houses thefoot pedal as well as its male plug that is attached to the foot pedal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric right side view of the yarn dancer or unit.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric left side view of the yarn dancer or unit.

FIG. 3 shows a backside view of the unit.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the unit opened.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the unit opened.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the unit opened.

FIG. 7 shows a right side view of the unit opened.

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of the box housing the pedal and its maleplug.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the unit closed and its drawer opened.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of the unit opened and the swift winderset on top of a platform.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of the unit opened and the swift coneset on the ball winder.

FIG. 12 shows a front close up view of the electronic thread feeder andits components.

FIG. 13 shows an isometric view of the base of the unit and itscompartment housing electrical components.

FIG. 14 shows a top view of the base of the unit and top view of thecompartment.

FIG. 15 shows a close-up top view of the mechanical counter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the yarn dancer or unit 10 closed up. The unit 10 iscomprised of a base 12 and a main cover 11. The cover 11 includes a mainhandle 13 and a pair of hinges 12 c as seen on FIG. 2. The main cover 11has an arched shape on the outside thus forming an arched cavity 12 ffrom within the cover as seen in FIG. 4. The unit 10 furtherincorporates a drawer 12 a having a drawer handle 12 m. The main cover11 and the drawer 12 a share two latching systems 12 b to keep thedrawer 12 a and the main cover 11 closed. As shown in FIG. 4, the maincover 11 is divided into three compartments 12 f by two shallow dividers12 n to keep balls of yarn, not shown, separated. Of course, the numberof compartments and dividers can be changed as part of increasing ordecreasing the number of balls of yarn used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base 12 contains a pair of arm supports 12 gprojecting from the back of the base 12 so as to support a pair of swiftarms 30 a, 30 b. Each of the swift arms is penetrated by a threadedfastener 12 h that also projects from the back of the base 12. A wingnut 12 j keeps the swing arms 30 a, 30 b fixed against the base 12 to bepart of the unit for storage or carrying around.

As shown in FIG. 4, the unit 10 is shown opened with all its componentsset accordingly. The unit 10 includes a pedal container 20 which housesa foot pedal 20 a with its male plug 20 b as seen in FIG. 8. The pedalcontainer 20 utilizes a latch system 20 c to keep the pedal container 20closed. The unit 10 includes a main support 12 e where the pedalcontainer 20 sits on top. The pedal container 20 can be prevented fromshifting by being held on top of the main support 12 e with hook andloop fasteners or any other fastener method that will prevent the pedalcontainer 20 from moving. On top of the main support 12 e sits a ballwinder 19 that is fixed to the main support 12 e. The ball winder 19includes a cylinder support 19 a, a thread guide 19 b, and a pulley 19c. The pulley 19 c drives cylinder support 19 a to spin it as commonlyknown in ordinary ball winders. It should be noted that the innermechanism of the ball winder 19 is not the crux of the invention but itis envisioned that that the cylinder support 19 a is driven by innermesh gears turned by the pulley 19 c that is driven by a winder motor 27containing a motor pulley 27 a. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the ballwinder 19 is driven by a pulley 19 c and a belt 19 d passing through themotor pulley 27 a.

The main support 12 e further holds an electronic thread feeder 22 asseen in FIGS. 4-6 and 12, a cone support 23 fastened to the main support12 e with a fastener 23 a as shown in FIG. 11, and a mechanical threadcounter 28 fixed to the main support 12 e as seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 15.The cone support 23 allows a ball winder cone 17 to be frictionallyfixed for storing away the ball winder cone 17 and allowing the cover 11to be fully closed. A three-way switch 18 also sits on top of the mainsupport 12 e to selectively operate the electronic thread feeder 22, theelectronic ball winder 19, or to turn the unit 10 off as seen in FIG. 5.When switched to the electronic thread feeder 22, the rate at which thethread feeder 22 rotates, is controlled by the user pressing on thepedal 20 a similar to how an electronic sewing machine is operated.

As shown in FIG. 5, three eyelets 21 project from the main support 12 ebefore the thread counter 28 and an additional eyelet 21 projects fromthe main support 12 e after the thread counter 28. In this particularunit 10, up to three threads can be used to feed through the yarncounter 28 and go through the electronic thread feeder 22. As seen inFIG. 12, the electronic thread feeder 22 includes a pair of covers 22 a,22 b that are pivotable relative to the main support 12 e via hinges 22f. A first roller 22 c is in direct contact with a second roller 22 d.It should be noted that a thread or threads, not shown, will passbetween the rollers 22 c, 22 d as the user crochets a garment. The firstroller 22 c contains an annular flange 22 e and the first roller 22 c isfixed to a motor shaft 25 a operated by an electric feeder motor 25 asshown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The electric motor 25 is controlled by thefoot pedal 20 a so as to control the rate at which the rollers 22 c, 22d rotate. The foot pedal 20 a gives the crocheter control of the rate atwhich the thread or threads pass through the rollers 22 c, 22 d. Thesecond roller 22 d is rotatably fixed to the main support 12 e with apivot shaft 26 projecting from the main support 12 e. When operating theelectronic thread feeder 22, the covers 22 a, 22 b protect the user andenclose the rollers 22 c, 22 d.

As shown in FIG. 9, the unit 10 is shown with its drawer 12 a opened andhousing the cross-bases 30 c, 30 d of the swift winder 30 as well as thepegs 30 e that assemble the swift winder. It is noted that the swiftwinder 30 alone is not the crux of the invention and that other designconfigurations of collapsible swift winders can be used. To use theswift winder 30, the swift winder 30 can be placed on the main support12 e in the same location the pedal container 20 was located or setaside off the main unit 10 as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the base 12 contains a divider 30 c spacedaway from the main support 12 e and above the drawer 12 a to create anelectronics compartment to house all electronic components such as thefeeder motor 25, the winder motor 27, the 3-way switch 18, the powersocket 12 d, a battery tray 12 q, a female socket 14 which isconnectable with the male plug 20 b, and all the necessary wiring, notshown, needed to make the electronic components function together. Thebattery tray 12 q is accessible by a battery cover 12 p located outsidethe unit 10, mainly on the backside of the unit 10. It should be notedthat the unit 10 can optionally be equipped with the battery tray 12 qand its battery cover 12 p so that the unit 10 can be made portable andnot be tethered between a wall outlet and the power socket 12 d.

As shown in FIG. 15, the yarn counter 28 comprises a mechanical numberindicator 28 a which tracks the length of yarn passing through therollers 28 c, 28 d. The yarn counter 28 further includes an elongatedslot 28 b accessing the pair o roller 28 c, 28 d of which one operatesthe mechanical number indicator. The yarn counter 28 further includes areset button 28 e so as to zero the number indicator 28 a. Although theinvention envisions to use this mechanical number indicator 28 a, othertypes of indicators can be used such as those that are in digital formhaving a digital display as well as use sensors in lieu of rollers totrack the length of yarn passing through.

To use the ball winder 19, the user would place a hank of yarn on theswift winder 30 and thread it through the yarn guide 19 b, which isadjacent to the ball winder cone 17 and fixed thereto as it is wellknown. The yarn guide 19 b comprises a coiled rod that is fixed to theball winder 19 but could as well be rotatable relative to the yarn guideso as to collapse the yarn guide 19 b before closing the main cover 11or be fixed separate from the ball winder 19 permanently fixed orrotatably fixed.

Other modifications would be apparent. The arms 30 a, 30 b of the swiftwinder 30 although set on the back of the base 12 could as well be madeshorter to fit in the drawer thus avoiding to integrate the pair of armsupports 12 g, the fastener 12 h, and the wing nut 12 j. The arms 30 a,30 b, although shown in one size on the back of the unit, could as wellbe made shorter or longer in size. The arms 30 a, 30 b can be envisionedto be inserted into the base through a side opening on the short side ofthe base 12 so that the arms 30 a, 30 b are hidden from view and sitbehind the drawer 12 a. The latch systems 12 b although used to connectthe main cover 11 and the drawer 12 a together can be replaced with fourlatch systems or two latch systems respectively connecting the maincover 11 and the drawer with the front panel 12 k. The hinges 12 c onthe back of the cover 11 could as well be replaced with latches so as tomake the cover removable from the base 12. The unit 10 as describedabove can be made to have foldable legs so that the unit can be raisedor include permanent footings to raise the unit from a platform.

While no reference to specific materials has been described, it is wellknown to those in manufacturing, that the unit can be made from manymaterials especially those that are light weight so that the unit can becarried by a person.

1. A unit comprising a main base and a cover hinged to the main base;wherein the base and the cover both housing an electronic thread feeder,an electronic ball winder, and a portion of a collapsible swift winder.2. The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main base includes adivider and a mount support separated from the divider forming anelectronics compartment.
 3. The unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein themain base further includes a drawer slidable from the main base andhousing part of the collapsible swift winder.
 4. The unit as claimed inclaim 3, wherein a pair of cross supports and a threaded fastenerextending from the main base; wherein the threaded fastener and thecross supports supporting the remaining portion of the collapsible swiftwinder; and wherein a lock fastener locking the remaining portion of thecollapsible swift winder.
 5. The unit as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a three-way switch selectively operable to turn the unit off,run the electronic thread feeder, or run the electronic ball winder. 6.The unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a foot pedal operableto control the electronic thread feeder.
 7. The unit as claimed in claim6, further comprising a container housing the foot pedal.
 8. The unit asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a yarn counter comprising anumber indicator and a reset button.
 9. The unit as claimed in claim 8,wherein the yarn counter further comprises a pair of rollers and a slot;wherein one of the rollers controls the number indicator.
 10. The unitas claimed in claim 9, wherein a set of three eyelets being fixed to themount support on one side of the yarn counter, and a single eyelet beingfixed to the mount support on an opposite side of the yarn counter. 11.The unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thread feeder comprising afirst roller and a second roller; wherein the first roller beingsupported by a feeder motor and the second roller being supported by ashaft.
 12. The unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the thread feederfurther comprises a pair of covers hingable from the mount support andhousing the first roller and the second roller.
 13. The unit as claimedin claim 11, further including a foot pedal operable to control thefeeder motor.
 14. The unit as claimed in claim 13, the foot pedalincluding a male plug and the main base comprising a female socketconnectable with the male plug.
 15. The unit as claimed in claim 2,wherein the electronic ball winder comprising a removable cone and themain support including a cone holder supporting the removable cone. 16.The unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ball winder comprises apulley, an electronic motor housed in the electronics compartment and abelt extending through the mount support from the electronic motor tothe pulley.
 17. A unit comprising a main base and a cover hinged to themain base; wherein the base and the cover both housing an electronicthread feeder, an electronic ball winder, and a portion of a collapsibleswift winder; wherein the cover comprises at least one divider formingat least two shallow compartments.
 18. The unit as claimed in claim 17,wherein the main base further includes a drawer slidable from the mainbase and housing part of the collapsible swift winder.
 19. The unit asclaimed in claim 18, wherein at least one latch connecting between thecover and the drawer keeping the cover and drawer closed.
 20. The unitas claimed in claim 17, further comprising a three-way switchselectively operable to turn the unit off, run the electronic threadfeeder, or run the electronic ball winder; and further comprising a footpedal operable to control the electronic thread feeder.
 21. The unit asclaimed in claim 20, further comprising a battery tray within the mainbase and a battery cover outside the main base.